Remote control apparatus



Aug. 22, 1933. p P s'f 1,923,174

REMOTE con-ram, APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 15. 192

-4 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 22, 1933 v I.

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Paul P. Stoker, Wilkinsburg, Pa.', assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., .a Corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 15, 1929, Serial No. 407,368 Renewed February 3, 1931 12 Claims.

My invention relates to remote control apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for safely controlling railway trafiic governing devices such as track switches and signals from a remote point,

and for indicating at the remote point the operation of such devices.

One feature of my invention is the provision of means for controlling a railway track switch and associated signals by one selector.

. I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view, showing one form of remote control apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a stretch Y of railway track which is connected by means of a switch A with a siding Z. A section F-G of stretch Y is insulated by means of joints 2 from adjacent portions of stretch Y and siding Z. Section F-G is provided with a track circuit which is supplied with current by a battery 3 connected across the rails adjacent one end of the section,

and which includes a track relay designated by the reference character T and connected across the rails adjacent the opposite end of the section.

Signals designated by the reference characters S S, S and S govern the movements of traffic over switch A. Signals S and S govern eastbound movements, that is, movements toward the right as shown in the drawing, and signals S and S govern westbound movements. Signals S and S govern movements along stretch Y only over switch A in its normal position as shown in the drawing. Signals S and S govern traific movements from or. to siding Z, respectively, over switch A reversed. As shown in the drawing, each of the signals is of the semaphore type. Signals S S S and S operate circuit controller contacts 24, 22, 20 and 19, respectively, each of which is closed only'when its signal is indicating t p I Switch A may be operated by any suitable means such, for example, as an electric motor controlled by a polarized switch relay W. Circuits for operating such a motor controlled by relay W are well known, and form no part of my present invention, and are therefore not shown in the drawing.

Relay W is controlled by the circuit controller contact operated by each signal, by track relay T, and by a control stick relay R. Relay R, by means of pole-changing contacts, determines the direction of flow of current through the winding of relay W.

Control relay R has a pick-up circuit which is controlled by a selector L and a relay 1'. A stick circuit for relay R is controlled by relay T and by a normally closed contact of a manually operable circuit controller, here shown as a push button M, which is located adjacent switch A. Relay R controls a repeater relay 1'.

A signal stick relay N has a pick-up circuit which is controlled by relay 1' and by selector L. A stick circuit for relay N is controlled by push button h and by a second push button h A manually operable code key V, which may be placed with other similar code keys in a central location, such, for example, as a train dispatchers 'oifice controls selector L over line wires 29 and 30 which may be the train dispatchers telephone wires. Code key V comprises a' code wheel 47 which operates a contact 48 in such manner. that when the key is wound and then released, the consequent movement of the code wheel 47 periodically closes and opens contact 48 until the key has unwound. Contact 48 is open except while code wheel 47 is being operated during the unwinding of code key V. While code key V is unwinding, battery Q therefore supplies current of a distinctive control code to the telephone line wires 29 and 30 for controlling selector L. Code keys of this type being well known in the art, further detailed description of their construction is omitted from this application.

Selector L is of v the well known type which has a selector winding 49 and an answer back winding 85. Circuits for energizing winding pass through the winding of a bell K, and hence winding 85 is supplied with pulsating current when bell K is being operated. -Winding 85, when thus supplied with pulsating current, induces a voltage in winding 49 which then produces a distinctive hum in the train dispatchers telephone receiver P. Selector L is provided with a contact 50 which is closed only while winding 49 is supplied with coded current by key V.

Switch A operates a contact 31 which is closed only while switch A is in its normal position, and operates a contact 34 which is closed only while switch A is in its reverse position. Contacts 31 and 34 control relays a and a, respectively. Relays a and a, in turn, control slow pick-up relays ca and aa, respectively.

Relays a and aa control one of the operating circuits for bell K and winding 85. The second operating circuit for bell K and winding 85 is co'ntrolledby relays a and aa The first operating circuit for bell K and winding 85 of selector L is closed only during the interval'required for relay ca to open its contact 69 when relay a becomes energized. The second control circuit for bell K and winding 85 is similarly closed only duringthe interval required for relay aa to openits contact 72 after relay a closes its contact 70.

Having thus described, in general, the arrange-- relay T energized, relay W is energized in the stop 'pos'itions.

normal direction by current flowing from terminal B of a current source not shown in the drawing, through contact 61 of relay R, contact 60 of relay T, wire 59, winding of relay W, wire 28, and contact 27 of relay R to terminal 0 of the same current source. is in its normal position, relay (1 is energized by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 31 of switch A, wire 32, and the winding of relaya to terminal 0. Relay aa istherefore also energized by its circuitpassing from terminal B, through contact 33 of relay a and the winding of relay ca to terminal 0. The arm of signal S is held in its proceed position by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 37 of relay T, wire 38, contact 39v of relay N, wire 40, contact 41 of relay R, wire 42, contact 43 of relay a wire44, and the mechanism of sig-,

nal S to terminal 0. The arm of signal S is held in its proceed position by its circuit which follows the path'just traced for signal S as far as wire 42, thence through contact 45 of relay a wire 46, and the mechanism of signal S to terminal 0. I

I will assume'that the dispatcher desiresto reverse switch A. He thereforewinds and then releases code key V which then during its unwinding operation permits battery Q to. supply coded current to selector L through contact 48 of key V, wire 30, winding 49 of selector L, and wire 29 back to battery Q. Selector L now closes its contact 50, and holds it in the closed position untilkey .V is unwound. a

- Relay R' is therefore energized by its pick-up circuit passing from terminal B, through'contact 50 of selector L, wire 51, contact52 of relay 1', wire 53, and the winding of relay'R to termi-' nal 0. Relay R, upon opening its contact 41, breaks the circuits already traced for signals S and s the armsof which then fall to their tact 58, completes it's stick circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 54 of push button h wire 55, contact 56 of relay T, wire 57, contact 58 of relay R, and the winding of relay R to terminal 0. At the same time, relay R completes, at its contact 62, the circuit for relay r Since switch A Relay R, upon closing its con-' opens its contact 69.

wire 23, contact 24 of signal S wire 25, contact 2'7 of relay R, wire 28, winding of relay W, wire 59, contact 60 ofrelay T, and contact 61 of relay R to terminal 0. With relay W; energized in the reverse direction, switch A is operated to its reverse position. I

The circuit for relay a is therefore opened at contact 31 of switch A, and the circuit for relay 1; is completed at contact 34. of switch A. With relay a energized, relay aa becomes energized by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 36 of relay a and the winding of relay ac to terminal 0. Relay. aa having a slow pick-up characteristic, does not at once open its contact 72 andv hence, upon the closing of contact '70 of relay a an operating circuit for bell K and winding 85 of selector L is completed, passing from terminal B, through contact of relay a wire 71, contact 72 of relay aa wire '73, winding of bell K, and'winding of selector L to terminal o. Winding 85 therefore induces current in winding 49 of selector L which then supplies current to telephone wires 29 and 30, producing a distinctive hum in the dispatchers telephone receiver P, and thus indicating to the dispatcher that switch A has completed its movement. After the lapse of a brief period of time, relay and opensits contact '72, breaking thecircuit for bell K and winding 85 of selector L, and thus discontinuingthe indication hum in telephone receiver P.

With relay a energized, the operating circuit for signal S is completed, passing from terminal B, through contact '77 of relay N, wire '78, contact 79 of relay T, wire 80, contact 83 of relay 1 a', wire 84, and the operating mechanism of signals to terminal 0. The operating circuit for signal S is also completed, following the path just traced for signal S as far as wire 80, thence throughcontact 81 of relay a wire 82, and the mechanism of signal S to terminal 0. The arms of signals S and S now move to their proceed position.

' It now the dispatcher should desire to send an approaching westbound train along stretch Y over switch A in its normal position, he will first put signals S and S to stop by winding, and then' releasing, key V. This operation of key V causes selector L to close'its contact 50 as already described, and since relay 1' is now energized, the pick-up circuit for relay N is completed, passing from terminal B, through contact 50 of selector L, wire 51, contact 52 of relay 1', and the winding of relay N to terminal 0. Relay N, by opening its contact '77 breaks the circuits previously traced for signals S and 8*, the arms of which now return to the stop position. Relay R continues energized by its stick circuitalready traced, and hence switch A does not return to its normal position until a trainman operates push button h thereby opening contact 54 of push button h in the stick circuit for relay R. Relay R now being de-energized, relay W becomesenergized in the normal direction as previously traced. With relay W energized in the normal direction, switch A is operated to its normal position.

, Switch A, upon reaching'its normal position, closes its contact 31, thereby completing the pick-up circuit for relay a The circuit for relay m is then completed at contact 33 of relay a but relay aa being of the slow pick-up type, a given interval of time elapses before relay aa 7 During the interval between the closing of contacts? of relay a and the opening of contact 69 of relay co 9. second operating circuit for bell K and winding 85 of selector L is closed, causing the indication hum to be produced in telephone receiver P. This hum iniormsthe dispatcher that switch A has completed its movement.

I! switch A should be again reversed and it signals S and S should be again indicating proceed as previously described, and if then the dispatcher should desire to hold a westbound .train'atsignal S but not to return switch A to im normal position, he will wind and then release key V, causing selector L to close its contact 50 and thereby cause relay N to be energized by the circuit already traced. Relay N, upon closing its contact 76, completes its stick circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 54 of push button h contact 74 of push button h, wire '75, contact 76 of relay N, and the winding of relay N to terminal 0. Relay N, upon becoming energized, opens, at itscontact 77, the circuits for signals S and S, the arms of which then return to the stop position.

Ii then, when a westbound train has stopped at signal S, it is decided to send the train to siding Z, atrainman will operate push button h thereby opening its contact '74 and de-energizing relay N. With relay N de-energized, the

operating circuits for signals S and S are again closed'at contact '7'? of relay N, and the arms of signals 5 and 8 therefore again move to their proceed position.

' I will now assume that switch A has been again reversed, and that signals S and S are indicating proceed. Either an eastbound train entering section FG at signal S, or a westbound train entering section F-G at signal 5*, will lie-energize relay T which will then open, at its contact '79, the circuits for signals S and S The-arms of these signals willv then return to their stop position. Relay T, upon becoming deenergized, opens its contact 56, thereby breaking the stick circuit for relay R, and so de-energizing relay R. At the same time, relay T opens its contact 60, thereby de-energizing relay W. when the train moves out of section FG, relay R continues de-energized, causing relay W to now be energized in the normal direction by its circuit previously traced through contacts 2'1? and 61 of relay R. With relay W energized in the normal direction, switch A will be returned to its normal position, and an indication of such return 01' switch W to its normal position will be given the dispatcher by means of a distinctive hum in his telephone receiver P, as previously described. It follows, therefore, that when a train moves through section FG while switch A is reversed,

the apparatus will return switch A to its normal position after the train leaves section FG, without any action on the part of the dispatcher.

Although I have described only one switch A and its associated signals, it is understood that a plurality of such switches with similarly associated signals may also be controlled over the telephone wires 29 and 30 by other selectors which can be controlled by other code keys, respectively, in the train dispatchers office. Distinction between indications for the different switches may be accomplished by the use or bellswhich differ from bell K in such a way as to cause distinctive sounds to be produced in the telephone receiver P.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of remote control apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually operable means, a stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said relay controlled by said manually operable means, a stick circuit for said relay controlled by traffic conditions adjacent said switch, means controlled by said' relay 'for' controlling said switch, a signal for governing trafiic movements over said switch, a second stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said second relay controlled by said manually operable means and by said first relay, a second 'manually operable means located adjacent said switch, a stick circuit for said second relay controlled by said second manually operable means, and means controlled by said second relay for controlling said signal.

2. In combination, a railway track switch, a selector responsive to current of a given code, manually controlled means for at times supplying current of said given code to said selector, a stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said relay controlled by said selector, a stick circuit for said relay controlled by traffic conditions adjacent said switch, means controlled by said relay for controlling said switch, a signal for governing traffic movements over said switch, and means controlled by said selector while said relay is energized for controlling said signal.

- 3. In combination, a railway track switch, a pair of conductors, a selector, manually controlled means for controlling said selector over said conductors, means, controlled by said selector for controlling said switch, a relay, means controlled by said switch for energizing said relay when said switch is operated to a given position, a slow pick-up relay controlledby said first relay, a circuit including a front contact of said first relay and a back contact of said slow pick-up relay in series, and indication means, and means controlled by said circuit for controlling said indication means over said conductors.

4. In combination with a railway switch and a I signal governing'traffic over said switch, two relays R and'N, a contact adjacent said switch controlled from a remote point, means controlled by said contact for at times energizing relay R, a first push button adjacent said switch, a stick circuit for relay R controlled by said first push button, meanscontrolled by said contact for at times energizing relay N provided relay R is energized, a second push button adjacent said switch, a stick circuit for relay N controlled by said second push button, means for operating said switch to one position or another according as relay R is energized or deenergized, and means controlled by relay N for governing said signal.

5. In combination, a railway track switch, a pair of conductors extending from a remote point to a point adjacent said switch, coded current generating means and a telephone receiver a said answer back winding to induce a voltage in said control winding to produce a bum in said telephone receiver.

,6. In, combination, a railway track switch, a pair of conductors extending from a. remote point to apoint adjacent said switch, coded current generating means and a telephone receiver connected across said conductors at said remote point, a selector having an answer back winding and also having-a selector winding which is controlled by current supplied to said conductors by said generating means, means'controlled by said selector winding for controlling said switch, and means controlled by said switch for causing said answer back winding to induce a voltage in said selector winding for producing an indication in said telephone receiver.

7. In combination, a railway track switch, code generating means and a telephone receiver located at a remote point, means including a selector having an answer back winding and also having a selector winding which is controlled by said code generating meansfor controlling said switch, and means controlled by saidswitch for causing said answer back winding to induce a voltage in said selector winding for controlling said telephone receiver.

8. In combination, a railway track switch, code generating apparatus and a telephone receiver located at a remote point, a selector having a control winding controlled by said code generating apparatus and having an answer back winding which controls said telephone receiver by inducing a voltage in said control winding, means controlled by said control winding for operating said switch, and means controlled by, said switch for controlling said answer back winding.

9. In combination, a railway track switch, a pair of conductors extending from a remote point to a point adjacent said switch, an indication device and a source of current connected in multiple across said conductors at said remote point, a selector comprising a selector winding and an answer back winding, a circuit including said source of current and said conductors for controlling said selector winding for controlling said switch, and a second circuit including said conductors and supplied with current by a voltage induced in said selector winding by said answer back winding controlled by said switch for conof an operation of said switch.

10. In combination, a railway track switch a selector responsive to current of a given code, manually controlled means for at times supplying current of said given. code to said selector, a stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said relay controlled by said selector, a stick circuit for said relay controlled by traffic conditions adjacent said switch, means controlled by said relay for controlling said switch, a signal for governing trafiic movements over said switch, and means controlled by said selector for controlling said signal if said selector is operated while said relay is energized.

11. In combination, a railway track switch, a selector responsive to current of a given code, manually controlled means for at times supplying 7 current of said given code to said selector, a stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said relay'controlled by a given operation of said selector, a stick circuit for said relay controlled by traffic conditions adjacent said switch, a signal for governing traffic movements over said switch, means controlled by said relay for controlling saidswitch and for V causing said signal to display a proceed indication if said relay becomes energized, and means controlled by said selector for causing said signal to indicate stop if said selector is operated'while said relay is energized.

12. In combination, a railway track switch, a pair of conductors, a selector having a selector winding and an answer back winding, manually controlled means for energizing said selector winding over said conductors, means controlled by said selector winding for controlling said switch, a relay, means-controlled by said switch for energizing said relay when said switch is operated to a given position, a slow pick-up relay controlled by said first relay, an electromagnetic device comprising a winding and a contact which .when'connected in' a circuit in series withisaid cluding said telephone receiver and said conductors as well as said selector winding controlled by said answer back winding for causing a hum in 'said telephone receiver. trolling said indication device upon completion PVAIUL P. 'STOKER. 

